U.S. patent application number 11/872475 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for apparatus and method for tracking of neonate feeding substrate.
Invention is credited to Scott A. Norman, Mark A. Petheram.
Application Number | 20080087726 11/872475 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39302226 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080087726 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Norman; Scott A. ; et
al. |
April 17, 2008 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACKING OF NEONATE FEEDING SUBSTRATE
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided employing radio frequency
identification and temperature detection tags to monitor the
identification and temperature and the transfer and the storage of
neonate feeding substrates such as neonate formula or breast milk
and the like throughout a hospital and neonate care unit the
apparatus includes a refrigeration and a heating and cooling unit
for storing and making temperature modifications to the to neonate
feeding substrate and which apparatus are used in the tracking of
the substrate during the course of warming and/or refrigeration
and/or transport of the substrate to different locations within a
hospital or hospital neonate intensive care unit.
Inventors: |
Norman; Scott A.; (Overland
Park, KS) ; Petheram; Mark A.; (Overland Park,
KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHUGHART THOMSON & KILROY, PC
120 WEST 12TH STREET
KANSAS CITY
MO
64105
US
|
Family ID: |
39302226 |
Appl. No.: |
11/872475 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11849041 |
Aug 31, 2007 |
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11872475 |
Oct 15, 2007 |
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11801142 |
May 9, 2007 |
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11849041 |
Aug 31, 2007 |
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60851936 |
Oct 16, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/385 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 36/2438
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/385 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 90/00 20060101
G06Q090/00 |
Claims
1. A method of tracking a neonate feeding substrate container
having feeding substrate therein comprising: causing a radio
frequency identification tag having a tag identification indica
associated therewith to be attached to a neonate feeding substrate
container, entering said tag identification indicia into a neonate
care database, correlating said tag identification indicia with a
neonate and/or neonate parent to provide a correlated tag
identification indicia, reading the tag identification indicia to
produce a tag identification reading prior to feeding the feeding
substrate to a neonate, reporting said tag identification reading
to said neonate care database. determining if the tag
identification reading corresponds to said correlated tag
identification indicia to provide an authenticated container and
neonate feeding substrate, making said authenticated container and
neonate feeding substrate available for feeding to a neonate.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps
of: including a temperature detector in said radio frequency
identification tag, determining a temperature of said neonate
feeding substrate, and reporting said temperature of said neonate
feeding substrate to said neonate care database.
3. A method of tracking and verifying the quality of neonate
feeding substrate within a container comprising: causing a radio
frequency identification tag having a tag identification indica
associated therewith to be attached to a neonate feeding substrate
container, entering said tag identification indicia into a neonate
care database, correlating said tag identification indicia with a
neonate and/or neonate parent to provide a correlated tag
identification indicia, reading the tag identification indicia to
produce a tag identification reading prior to feeding the feeding
substrate to a neonate, measuring a parameter of said neonate
feeding substrate to provide a substrate parameter reading, and
reporting said tag identification reading and said substrate
parameter reading to said neonate care database.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said parameter of said
neonate feeding substrate is the feeding substrate protein
content.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said parameter of said
neonate feeding substrate is the feeding substrate fat content.
6. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said parameter of said
neonate feeding substrate is the feeding substrate electrolyte
content.
7. A neonate tracking and refrigeration apparatus comprising: a
refrigeration unit for storing at least one container containing a
neonate feeding substrate, a radio frequency identification reader
connected to said refrigeration unit for detecting identification
data from a radio frequency identification tag having a tag
identification indica associated therewith, said tag associated
with a neonate feeding substrate container, a memory for receiving
said data from said radio frequency identification reader, a
display for reporting said data for review, and a data connection
for sending said data to a neonate care database
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a
security lock
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said data connection
is a radio frequency transmitter for sending data to a neonate care
database.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said data
connection is a hard wire connection.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a
neonate substrate cooling and warming unit associated with said
refrigeration unit and connected to said refrigeration unit by a
second data connection to allow association of cooling and/or
heating of said neonate feeding substrate.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/849,041 filed Aug. 31, 2007, titled Neonatal Nutrition
Warmer and which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
11/801,142 filed May 9, 2007, Titled Neonatal Nutrition Warmer the
specification of each is incorporated herein by reference. This
application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 37 C.F.R.
1.78(a)(4) based upon copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
No. 60/851,936 for Warmer and Cooler for Bottled Liquid filed Oct.
16, 2006 and which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The apparatus and method comprise the use of RFID tags to
monitor the temperature and transfer and storage of infant formula
or breast milk and other types of neonate feeding substrates as it
is utilized throughout a hospital and neonate care unit. The
embodiments described herein generally present an apparatus and
method for providing refrigeration and heating to neonate formula
or feeding substrate, including breast milk, and detecting the
container identity and temperature of the formula or breast milk
during the course of its warming and/or refrigeration and/or
transport to different locations within a hospital or hospital
neonate intensive care unit and during the warming of the substrate
to a usable temperature for feeding an infant and the handling
associated therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the
best modes in which the applicant has contemplated applying the
principles, are set forth in the following description and are
shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed
out and set forth in the appended claims.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a front, top and left side perspective view of an
embodiment of the refrigeration unit;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a front, top and left side perspective view of the
refrigeration unit having a neonatal substrate warmer and cooler
unit connected thereto;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a container for a
neonate feeding substrate, such as breast milk or formula, having
an RFID tag connected thereto;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a front, top and right side perspective view of a
neonatal feeding syringe having an RFID tag connected thereto;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the method described herein of
tracking neonatal substrate throughout a hospital and/or neonate
intensive care unit;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the verification method
described herein for determining that a neonate feeding substrate
is at the proper conditions for feeding to a neonate; and
[0010] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the various storage
and parameter checking options that may be employed during the
tracking neonatal substrate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] As required, detailed embodiments of the present inventions
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0012] First referring to FIG. 1, the present system and its
embodiments utilize a refrigeration unit 10 which is equipped with
computer data ports 12 which can be, for example, a USB port and
cord for transmitting information collected by the refrigeration
unit 10 to other apparatus. Refrigeration unit 10 is also equipped
with onboard display 14, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD),
which permits display of the current RFID detected contents of the
refrigerator while avoiding the opening of the refrigerator to
determine whether or not the container of infant formula sought is
actually within refrigerator 10. Refrigerator 10 is provided with
an RFID tag reader 15 which, in a preferred embodiment, is affixed
to the refrigerator 10. The RFID reader 15 reads the RFID tag
indicia of containers being placed into refrigerator 10 and is
activated by the opening of doors 11 of refrigerator 10. In this
manner reader 15 will detect the removal from the refrigerator or
the addition to the refrigerator of any neonate feeding substrate
container that is equipped with an RFID tag as taught hereinafter.
The information detected by reader 15 is displayed on LCD 14.
Reader 15 also can be activated by use of keypad 16 to read the
RFID tags of the containers within refrigerator 10 without the need
to open the refrigerator doors 11. LCD display 14 presents to the
operator of refrigerator 10 other data and information which can be
downloaded to refrigerator 10 via data port 12 which connects
refrigerator 10 to the hospital or neonate intensive care unit
(neonate ICU) database. It will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that in the interests of maintaining security through the
generally non-secure hospital environment that refrigerator 10,
equipped with keypad 16, can require a user to enter access codes
to allow entry into refrigerator 10 or to read information on the
LCD. It will also be appreciated that keypad 16 can include any of
several types of magnetic stripe or other typical security devices
which would not only allow access to refrigerator 10, but which may
also record the identity of the individual obtaining access to
refrigerator 10. The neonate substrate containers described
hereinafter can be kept within refrigerator 10 at the required
refrigeration temperatures of 2-6 degrees Centigrade (35-43 degrees
Fahrenheit).
[0013] In FIG. 2, an embodiment of refrigerator 10 is shown
connected to a neonate substrate warmer and cooler unit 18 which is
designed to fit a top refrigerator 10. Warmer and cooler unit 18 is
provided with one or more wells 20 into which a container of
neonate feeding substrate can be placed and warmed or cooled
according to operations and principals previously described in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/801,142 filed May 9, 2007 entitled
Neonatal Nutrition Warmer and U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/849,041 filed Aug. 31, 2007 entitled Neonatal Nutrition Warmer.
As will be described hereinafter, refrigerator 10 is also part of
an entire system of monitoring containers of infant formula or
breast milk through the use of radio frequency identification tags
that also provide temperature monitoring through the RFID tags.
[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, two typical containers for
holding breast milk or infant formula generally referred to herein
as neonate feeding substrate or as substrate are shown. In FIG. 3,
a container 22 is shown containing substrate 24 therein and having
a radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag) 26 connected to
container 22. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that RFID tag 26 can be within container 22 or attached to any
portion of container 22. However, it is likely that RFID tag 26
will not be within removable cap 28 where the cap is separable from
container 22. It will be further appreciated that a duplicate tag
26 could be attached to cap 28 thereby avoiding this difficulty.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate container for holding neonate
substrate is shown in the form of a feeding syringe 30 having an
RFID tag 26 attached thereto. These two containers have been
discussed in greater detail in application Ser. No. 11/801,142
filed May 9, 2007 and Ser. No. 11/849,041, filed Aug. 31, 2007 the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0015] Once the containers have been provided with RFID and entered
into the tracking system as described hereinafter, the containers
either may be placed in neonate unit tracking refrigeration unit 10
(FIG. 1) where they are available for immediate use or the
containers 22 may be placed into an individual infant refrigeration
unit 10 (FIG. 2) having a single or multiple well cooling and
warming unit 18 associated therewith.
[0016] Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that when
formula is placed into either warming or cooling unit 18 or into
refrigerator 10, the two devices are interconnected by data cable
12 and are able to share information which allows the data storage
on refrigerator 10 to be updated when a particular container having
formula therein is introduced into warmer cooler 18 to thereby
record the warming or cooling process that is conducted by unit 18
and to maintain a log of the temperatures at which the infant
formula or breast milk 24 is subjected. Again, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that refrigerator 10 and
warmer unit 18, while being interconnected with one another, also
may be interconnected to a data system of the neonate unit and that
the information tracked from refrigeration unit 10 or warmer unit
18 will thereby become a part of the permanent log of the identity
and temperature records of the container 22 being tracked.
[0017] After the neonate substrate 24 has been warmed to the
appropriate temperature using warmer 18 (FIG. 2), the container 22
can be removed and taken to the infant for feeding of the formula
to the infant at step 126. It will be appreciated that just prior
to feeding at step 126, the data is once again obtained, verified
and recorded at step 118. After feeding has been completed, data
regarding the container and formula is again tracked at step 130,
at which point the end temperature after the feeding cycle can be
recorded, the identity of the container can be recorded, and the
time and date of the particular feeding can be recorded prior to
the container being discarded at step 128 and the log for that
particular container brought to a conclusion.
[0018] As a result of the system and apparatus described herein, it
will be seen that apparatus and apparatus and method for tracking
the identification and temperature of the substrate is provided so
that the condition of the substrate can be determined at any time
between the date of collection and the time of feeding of the
infant. It will also be appreciated that the system receiving the
tracking data as well as the individual RFID tags can be equipped
with alarms which are set to call attention to the particular
container should the temperature of the substrate in that container
ever be detected to be beyond the temperature limits previously
described of 2-6 degrees Centigrade (35-43 degrees Fahrenheit). It
will be appreciated that the alarm could be a sound alarm or a
flashing light alarm which could be observed from any of the
tracking stations or refrigerator 10 or warmer 18 or the RFID tag
26 itself could be equipped with a small LED which would light up
upon an out of range temperature being detected. Such an onboard
LED could receive power from the small battery contained in a
semi-passive RFID tag or the radio frequency energy received by the
tag during the reading of a passive RFID tag may be sufficient to
cause the LED to eliminate.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 5, the general system and methodology
for tracking the identification and physical parameters of the
neonate substrate within its containers 22, 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) will
be described. The general process 100 is shown in FIG. 6 which
first comprises obtaining the neonate substrate either as breast
milk or as prepared formula or as a combination of both in Step
110. Once the substrate has been obtained, the individual
containers in which the substrate has initially been placed are
tagged with radio frequency identification devices at Step 112. It
will be understood that herein after the term neonate substrate or
the term substrate is used to refer to breast milk and/or to
prepared formula and/or to a combination of both.
[0020] Once the RFID tag set has been initialized in step 112, the
tags so initialized are registered into the data tracking system at
step 112 by taking a reading of the RFID tag set for a first time
by a typical RFID tag reader as is known in the art and as has been
described in application Ser. No. 11/849,041. After the set of RFID
tags has been initialized into the system at step 112, a portion of
the tags are then provided to the mother for use in step 110 and a
portion of the tags are provided to the hospital or neonate unit
for use in step 120 to be discussed hereinafter. Next the
containers are taken to neonate unit 114 and the check in of the
containers is effected by reading the RFID tag at step 114 to
update the information collected at step 112. At this point, the
date of receipt of the container 22 would be noted as well as the
date of obtaining the substrate from the mother if that information
is available. At step 114, the received containers 22 of substrate
would be generally registered into the tracking system of the
hospital or neonate unit. It is from this point forward until the
discarding of the container 22 that all steps of the container 22
are tracked and the temperature and identification of the container
22 are noted at each transfer or manipulation of the container
22.
[0021] In Step 112 a plurality of RFID tags are either
preprogrammed or pre-associated with a mother and/or an infant for
whom tracking of neonate substrate is desired. In the embodiment
described herein, a passive or semi-passive RFID tag is used and
the serial number or registration number of the RFID tag is
correlated with identification information which corresponds to the
mother or infant for whom the tags are being prepared. It will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the case of a
semi-passive RFID tag, information can be programmed into the
onboard microchip which could be information such as mother's name,
infant's name, telephone numbers, room numbers, etc. It will also
be appreciated that one of the features of the system and method
described herein is the constant temperature monitoring of the
substrate 24 (FIG. 3) as it is held within containers such as
containers 22, 30. Therefore, a semi-passive RFID device may be
used in the present system and method for tracking and recording
the temperature status of the substrate 24. The detected
information then can be downloaded by use of the radio frequency
(RF) transmission when the tag is confronted with a tag reader
device. It also will be appreciated that in the course of the
present system and apparatus, the date on which the breast milk or
infant formula is placed into the container may wish to be recorded
on the microchip of the RFID tag to allow determination of an
expiration date for the breast milk or infant formula. It further
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that for each
mother or baby a plurality of RFID tags is prepared initially so
that an abundance of RFID tags is available for any number of
containers of substrate that are generated in Step 110 and which
step may be repeated a number of times during the period of
neonatal care.
[0022] After the RFID tags have been applied to the containers 22,
30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and the RFID tags initialized in Step 112, the
containers are moved to the neonate intensive care unit (neonate
ICU) in Step 114. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the containers having neonate substrate therein should not
be taken to the neonate ICU area until they have been fully tagged
with the RFID tags and the proper documentation of the neonate
substrate made to properly incorporate the new containers of
neonate substrate into the hospital and neonate ICU tracking
systems for neonate substrate. As the present system of neonate
substrate tracking and documentation involves numerous database
recordings and correlations as between RFID tags and the hospital
admission and patient identity records maintained by the hospital,
the initial presence of the RFIDs in the hospital or neonate ICU
database is essential. Those skilled in the art will be fully aware
of the nature and extent of records that must be correlated with
the RFID tags that have been applied to the neonate substrate
containers generated in Step 110.
[0023] Once the containers of neonate substrate arrive at the
neonate ICU, initial analysis should be performed to determine that
the parameters of the newly received neonate substrate are known
and documented. This analysis occurs in Step 116 during the initial
parameter check. The initial parameter check 116 is similar to
later parameter checks in that the particular data obtained in each
case is generally the same. However, the initial parameter check
provides the initial benchmark data for which changes in the
neonate substrate are compared. These data are the temperature of
the neonate substrate within the container and the various nutrient
levels which the neonate substrate contains. Also, the weight and
the volume of the amount of neonate substrate within each container
is determined. These collected parameter data are sent to, and
recorded by, the hospital records system via the hospital data
server, either through a hardwire data transmission port or a radio
frequency wireless local area network.
[0024] Once the initial parameter check has been accomplished on
the newly received containers of neonate substrate, the containers
may be handled in a number of different ways. One or more
containers may go directly to verification step 118 which is a step
prefatory to the substrate being used in actually feeding the
neonate. Alternatively, the newly received containers of neonate
substrate may go from initial parameter check 116 into aliquot
formation 120 or to storage 122 depending upon the immediate needs
for neonate substrate in the neonate ICU and the size of the
containers used during the initial preparation and capture of the
neonate substrate in step 110. In aliquot formation step 120, the
containers of substrate originally generated in step 110 may be
redispensed into containers of larger or smaller size as
circumstances may require for the feeding of the particular
neonate. Depending on the size of the infant and frequency of
feeding, the quantity of substrate will vary and the amount of
substrate in the container to be offered the neonate will vary.
Aliquot formation step 120 provides the option of redispensing the
neonate substrate into appropriately sized containers for the
particular situation. As part of the aliquot formation step, a
parameter check step 124 is utilized to verify that the weight and
temperature and nutrient levels and volume of the substrate in each
container is within set parameters. Also, the time and date of
aliquot formation is noted, either during the aliquot formation
step 120 or the coincidental parameter check 124 for recording the
container data in the hospital or neonate ICU records after
manipulation in Step 120.
[0025] Alternatively, after initial parameter check 116 containers
of the neonate substrate prepared in step 110 may be sent
immediately to storage 122. Storage 122 may either be freezing of
the neonate substrate or refrigeration of the neonate substrate
depending on the length of storage intended. It will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that the neonate substrate kept in
storage 122 may be moved from storage 122 either to parameter check
124 and then aliquot formation 120 or to verification step 118
prefatory to use of the substrate in neonate feeding at step 126.
If neonate substrate is taken from storage 122 and sent to aliquot
formation 120, a parameter check 124 will be performed on the
material prior to aliquot formation to track the quality of the
neonate substrate after it has been held within storage 122 and
prior to its manipulation during aliquot formation 120. Also, after
the material taken from storage 122 has been processed through
aliquot formation 120, it will again pass through parameter check
124 to provide a record of the status and contents of the container
prior to being placed back into storage 122. It will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that the repeated parameter checks 124
are intended to maintain close control over the quality of the
neonate substrate, to provide data regarding each container and the
formula therein at each step of manipulation to ensure proper
hospital procedures and to detect any failures in the steps of
storage 122 or aliquot formation 120. These data also may be used
to detect any change in the quality of material that has occurred
since the original intake of the neonate substrate at initial
parameter check 116 when the material has been received in the
neonate intensive care unit 114.
[0026] As previously described, once the neonate substrate has
received either an initial parameter check 116 or an aliquot
formation 120 or been retrieved from storage 122, the neonate
substrate will pass through verification step 118 prior to the
feeding of a neonate in step 126. In step 118 it may be determined
that the formula is outside of usable parameters of verification
step 118, in which case the neonate substrate will be discarded in
step 128. If the neonate substrate is determined to be acceptable
for use in step 118, and is used for feeding of a neonate in step
126, the neonate substrate that is remaining after a feeding in
step 126 then will be processed through a final parameter check 130
prior to being discarded in step 128. Parameter check 130 serves
the purpose of determining the amount and quality of the neonate
substrate after the step of feeding 126. In this manner, the weight
and volume of substrate actually given to the neonate in 126 is
documented and the quantity and nutritional content of the material
remaining after feeding the neonate in step 126 is documented.
These data provide the necessary information for the permanent
hospital records to ensure that the neonate has actually been
receiving sufficient quantity and sufficient nutrition during
feedings.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 7, the specifics of the verification
protocol will be discussed. Verification protocol 150 begins in
Step 152 by neonate substrate being received from parameter check
116 or aliquot formation 120 or storage 122. It will be appreciated
that as verification step 118 (FIG. 6) is performed just prior to
the substrate actually being fed to a neonate in step 126 that an
intensive verification of the kind and quality and identification
of the neonate substrate is made. This analysis begins in step 154
of the verification sequence by confirming the identification of
the neonate substrate as read from the RFID tag attached to the
substrate container. This is compared with the hospital records for
both the baby and the mother. Should there be a discrepancy in this
identification, the substrate identification discrepancy initiates
alarm 156 to notify personnel that the particular container of
neonate substrate has an incorrect mother/baby identification
associated with it. The incorrectly identified neonate substrate
then passes to an evaluation protocol 158 which is established and
invoked according to the particular procedures established by the
neonate intensive care unit or hospital at which the apparatus and
method are in use. One result of the evaluation protocol 158 may be
that the neonate substrate is discarded at step 128 (FIG. 6). If
the incorrect identification alarm is raised, the information
regarding this incorrect identification is transferred into
hospital records at step 160a to maintain complete records and full
tracking of the containers of neonate substrate. In step 154, if
the check of the container radio frequency ID with the baby and/or
mother information is correct, the formula then passes to step 162
for further evaluation. A record of the successful identification
is made at step 160b.
[0028] In step 162, the temperature of the neonate substrate is
determined to ensure it is within the acceptable temperature
parameters set by the hospital protocol. If a correct temperature
is detected, the container then passes to step 164 for further
evaluation. If the temperature reading is out of adjustment, the
neonate substrate is passed to temperature adjusting step 166. In
Step 166 the substrate is warmed or cooled as needed to attain the
correct feeding temperature range. It will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that the temperature adjustment of the neonate
substrate is dependent upon the neonate substrate being within
certain acceptable deviations of temperature which are set by
hospital protocols. It will be appreciated that were the substrate
found to be outside of the acceptable temperature deviation, that
the substrate would be discarded. However, where the temperature is
found to be within the acceptable deviation but in need of
adjustment, temperature adjustment step 166 will be employed. As
discussed previously, the data from each of the steps is recorded.
If the correct temperature is determined in step 162, this correct
temperature or, in fact, any temperature, is recorded at step 162
and is made a matter of record and recorded at step 168a. If the
temperature detected at step 162 is within acceptable deviation but
in need of modification, the temperature of the neonate substrate
as it exists after temperature adjustment step 166 is recorded for
hospital records at step 168b. After the adjusted temperature has
been recorded at step 168b, the neonate substrate is passed for
further analysis in step 164.
[0029] In step 164, the nutritional limits analysis is performed on
the neonate substrate. This nutritional analysis examines the
protein and fat and electrolyte contents of the neonate substrate
to enable tracking of the nutritional parameters received by the
baby during feeding step 126 (FIG. 6). If the nutritional limits
detected during analysis 164 are within the set limits of the
hospital, the substrate will be passed to step 170 in which the
time and date and volume and weight of the neonate substrate is
detected and recorded in step 172 prior to feeding in step 126. If,
on the other hand, the nutritional limits analysis in step 164
determines that adjustments are to be made to the nutritional
content of the substrate, the substrate will be passed to
nutritional limits adjustment step 174. In step 174 modifications
to electrolytes or protein or fat content can be made. Once
adjustments have been made and acceptable nutritional limits are
reached, the neonate substrate is passed on to step 170 for
determination of volume and weight and time and date of use of the
substrate. Again, it will be appreciated that in each of these
steps, the data detected is recorded for hospital records. If the
nutritional limits of the substrate are found to be incorrect at
step 164, that information is recorded at step 176a. After
nutritional adjustments are made in step 174, the adjusted
nutritional limits of the neonate substrate are recorded in step
176b prior to passage of the neonate substrate to step 170. Also,
if the neonate substrate has initially correct nutritional limits,
as analyzed in step 164, that is recorded in step 176c prior to the
particular container of the neonate substrate being passed to step
170.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 8, the treatment of a neonate substrate
that is passed into storage 122 will be more fully described. In
FIG. 8, a schematic representation of substrate storage 122 is
shown within the dotted line box. Substrate which is sent to
storage may arrive from initial parameter check 116 or from
parameter check 124 subsequent to aliquot formation 120. Within the
generalized storage scheme 122 of FIG. 6, a number of storage
options are presented all of which are options within the present
method. For example, within the general storage scheme 122, the
neonate substrate may be held within a freezer 192 or a
refrigerator 194 or within a long-term storage area 196. Also,
variations in the storage or location may be present such as
storage on the general neonate intensive care unit floor 198 or
within the actual room of the mother and neonate 200. Depending on
hospital protocol, it may be the case that a recheck of the neonate
substrate parameters 202 is required each time the substrate is
relocated. At each manipulation or transfer of the neonate
substrate a parameter check may be performed, either upon the
substrate going out of storage in step 204, or the substrate being
transferred between freezer 192 and refrigerator 194 or from
long-term storage 196 to any of room 200 or neonate floor 198 or an
alternate freezer 192 or an alternate refrigerator 194. It will be
appreciated that the hospital "best practices" may require a
parameter check 202 to be performed any time the neonate substrate
is transferred between any of these locations. The need for the
parameter check may be to simply invoke a hospital identification
data record that the neonate substrate has been transferred from
one location to another. Alternatively, the hospital protocols may
require that actual temperature, nutritional limits, and weight and
volume and time and date be collected during each transfer. It will
be appreciated that the present method contemplates such additional
parameter checking 202 during each of these transfers or movements
of the neonate substrate between locations. Finally, it will be
appreciated, as shown in FIG. 6, that whenever neonate substrate is
removed from the general storage scheme 122 that a parameter check
124 or a verification step 118 will be performed on the neonate
substrate prior to the neonate substrate being manipulated in
aliquot formation step 120 or presented to a neonate for feeding in
step 126 as is represented by the options available to outgoing
substrate 204 in FIG. 8.
[0031] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of
the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description
and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the
scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or
described. Certain changes may be made in embodying the above
invention, and in the construction thereof, without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all
matter contained in the above description and shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
meant in a limiting sense.
[0032] Having now described the features, discoveries and
principles of the invention, the manner in which the inventive
method and apparatus for container identity tracking and container
temperature tracking and security is constructed and used, the
characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and
useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices,
elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in
the appended claims.
[0033] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the
invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the
invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
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